Chapter Seventy-Four: Champions League Grouping
In the second round of the league, Tottenham Hotspur hosted Queens Park Rangers.
It was also their first league home game at Wembley, and Benjamin's side showed absolute dominance against promoted sides.
Sadio Mane scored twice, Kane scored and Alderweireld netted as Tottenham won 4-0 at home.
After winning the three points, Benjamin has to prepare for the next round of matches against Liverpool, and one other thing to worry about is the draw for this season's Champions League group.
Because Tottenham's European points in the past five years are not too low, and Manchester United and Arsenal, which are ahead of the European points, have not entered the Champions League.
As a result, Tottenham were placed in Pot 2 in the group, which means that the possibility of Tottenham being placed in the "Group of Death" is much lower.
The Lilies were last season's Premier League champions and can be seeded in Pot 1 if they wait until the Champions League group stage draw rules are adjusted.
Unfortunately, this rule will not be officially enforced until next season.
While Benjamin is confident that they will be able to fight no matter what opponent they face, it would be nice to be able to take it easy in the group stage.
On August 28, the draw for the group stage of the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League was held at the Grimaldi Convention Centre in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
UEFA secretary general and future UEFA president Gianni Infantino of Switzerland presided over the draw.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and former Germany international Riddle worked together to determine the group of teams in Pot 1.
When Real Madrid legend Hierro started the draw for the second team, Benjamin said in his heart that it was impossible not to be nervous, but more to be excited and expectant.
"Tottenham Hotspur!"
"Group E"
Countless Tottenham fans who were following the Champions League draw were exclaiming that they had been placed in a group with Bayern.
Benjamin felt a slight feeling in his heart.
When the remaining two teams in their group were revealed, Benjamin and Levy looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
Last season's Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, reigning Premier League champions Tottenham Hotspur, Serie A giants Red Wolves Roma and last season's Russian Premier League champions CSKA Moscow were placed in the same group.
This group also became the only group of death in this Champions League group stage.
Other Premier League teams have had much better luck, not to mention Chelsea in Pot 1 and Manchester City in Pot 2, even Liverpool, who are in Pot 3 due to their poor European results in recent years, are better than Tottenham.
Liverpool are in a group with Real Madrid, Basel and Ludogorets, and the other two teams are one from Switzerland and one from Bulgaria.
Reds supporters have been spicing champagne at home to celebrate their team's draw.
"I think the reform of the Champions League group format is very reasonable and necessary, at least from next season onwards, it won't be the same situation as it is today."
Although the principle of drawing and dividing the Champions League group stage is still being reformed in heated discussions, it has not been decided, but it does not affect Benjamin to complain about his grouping.
What others don't know, Benjamin is clear.
From next season, the division of seeding teams will no longer be determined by the team's European points, but will be made up of the reigning Champions League champions and the winners of the top seven UEFA leagues.
According to the restructured rules, Tottenham will not be in the same group as Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow.
They will all be separated into different groups as a bracket team.
"Now that the result of the group is like this, all I can do is to lead the team to play every game as well as possible and try to qualify from the group.
None of the teams that can reach the Champions League are underdogs, so we will do our best and take every opponent seriously. ”
In the first round of the Champions League group stage, Tottenham Hotspur will go away to challenge the Bundesliga hegemon Bayern Munich.
In the first Champions League game of his career, he ushered in such a strong opponent, and Benjamin had no bottom in his heart.
Bayern will have a reputation as the king of London in the future, can Tottenham win them and get the Champions League off to a good start?
"Unfortunately, I was right, and we met Bayern in the group stage."
"Hahaha, I'll definitely go to the scene to give you when the time comes...... Come on! ”
Looking at the smiling face sent by the girl, Benjamin's mood lightened a little.
Thankfully, the Champions League won't start until next month, and Benjamin is back in the league.
"Are you ready? Don't be impulsive in the future. ”
Walker, who almost lost Tottenham after receiving a red card in the first round of the league, is lucky not to receive an additional suspension and can return for tomorrow's game against Liverpool.
Kyle Walker has been a lot more honest these days, and his training has been a lot more aggressive than usual.
"I promise!"
Benjamin nodded, "That's good, it's up to you to behave." ”
There was also a hiccup before the Tottenham and Liverpool match.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard alluded to Suarez's departure in an exclusive interview with former team-mate Carragher:
"I thought he was going to stay, I always thought we were going to keep him for at least another year.
But when I saw the bite, I almost fell to the ground because I knew we were going to be out.
It's a double whammy of finding out your team is being eliminated early and realising that you're going to lose your club's best player.
As soon as this happened, I realized that there was no turning back, and I knew early on that he had been plotting to leave, and I tried my best to persuade ......."
Benjamin laughed about it in an interview with Sky Sports.
"Last season, the Uruguayan scored 31 goals and 12 assists for Liverpool in the league alone, which is an absolutely world-class performance.
However, Brendan Rodgers' side have yet to win a single trophy and I understand Suarez's choice.
If it were me, I wouldn't want to stay in a team that has no hope. ”
Suarez saw the Tottenham Hotspur manager who spoke out in support of him in the interview, and in any case, he would never have thought that the "culprit" who induced him to bite at that time was actually Benjamin.
At half past one in the afternoon of August 31, the focus of the third round of the 14-15 Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur sat at Wembley Stadium to face Liverpool.
Liverpool players such as Johnson, Lallana and Skrtel are out injured.
Balotelli, who has just moved to Liverpool from AC Milan, made his Premier League debut after a year and a half, forming a trident alongside Raheem Sterling and Sturridge.
Manquillo and Sarco also rotated into the starting line-up.
Tottenham's players are in good shape, with Kyle Walker back in the starting line-up after the end of his suspension.
After the opening, Liverpool, who were playing away, launched a rush to attack.
Just three minutes into the game, Sturridge crossed from a 45-degree angle on the left, and Balotelli's header in the middle of the penalty area grabbed the goal!
Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris pounced on the ball and managed to keep it out in the second minute in a panic.
The Italian then fired wide of the near corner from the right side of the six-yard box.
Benjamin's brows furrowed again, how could Lloris get rid of this ball, if he lost the ball because of this, it would definitely be a serious mistake by the French.
Lloris kicked the ball in goal, which was interfered with by the Liverpool player's pressing, and a big foot drove the ball directly out of the sideline and handed the ball back to the Liverpool opponent.
As soon as he is pressed, he panics, and the problem of traveling on the ball still exists.
It's over, the French country is still back to its old ways, and the dog can't change what it eats.